The High Price of Unsafe Drinking Water

The World Health Organization reports that unclean water causes 842,000 fatalities a year. Many of the victims are children. Find out more about water-related diseases and the risks of unsafe drinking water.

Are there naturally occurring contaminants?

Yes. When groundwater flows, it comes into contact with iron and manganese. These dissolved minerals may be found in water. Industry experts refer to water with a large amount of mineral concentration as "hard" and will need "softening." Other naturally occurring contaminants that pose a threat to the community include arsenic, radon, and uranium.

How about human-induced contaminants?

Of course, industrialization contributes greatly to water safety. Harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, sulfur, asbestos, and nitrates are industrial wastes that contaminate water when a working waste management facility isn’t properly maintained. Water also becomes polluted through sewage, human waste, oil leakages, and the burning of fossil fuels.

What diseases does water contamination bring?

Water contamination can cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to arsenic, which is often naturally occurring, can eventually lead to skin, lungs or bladder cancer. Diarrhea, which results in dehydration, is no small matter either. The microorganisms – viruses, bacteria, and protozoans – that cause diarrhea have claimed roughly 1.8 million deaths from roughly 4 billion cases a year. Cholera, characterized by a series of diarrheas, is a global concern, particularly in developing countries with sanitation issues; it is a fatal bacterial infection of the intestinal tract. Also, parasitic worms gain access to the human body through water. Schistosomiasis, also known as snail fever, happens when schistosomes in their larvae form find their way to the human intestinal tract through fresh water.

There are ways to manage the risks. A good water purifier and water softener in Provo can ensure that you and your family will have safe drinking water that is free from naturally occurring or human-induced contaminants.